Locking slider for fasteners



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LOCKING SLIDER FOR FASTENERS Filed Jan. 6, 1932 [7 Weir/@1 M/Pre ce Patented Dec. 13, 1932 PATENT OFFICE GEORGE E. PRENTICE, OF BERLIN, CONNECTICUT LOCKING SLIDER FOR FASTENEBS Application tiled January 6, 1932. Serial No. 584,994.

This invention relates to separable fasteners of the slider-actuated type and pertains more particularly to an improved slider having provision vfor locking it in any desired position of adjustment and applicable to fasteners' in which the slider is movedl either upwardly or downwardly respectively enclosing the gap or o ening.

In my Patent fo. 1,778,338, dated October i4, 1980 I have disclosed one desirable form of double-locking slider in which a friction shoe. independent of the other slider parts, is loosely fitted in a window in the front wing *5 the fastener elements by the operation of a cam on the pull tab, thereby frictionally locking the slider in adjusted position. In my copendiri application, Serial No.

463,930, filed Q une' 26, 1930, I d'sclose other arrangementsof double-locking slider, one of which differs essentially from the structure shown in my aforesaid patent in omitting the friction shoe and causing the cams on the pull tab to bear directly against the fastener elements. In a second form disclosed in said application, the cams of the pull tab bear directly a-gainst the front wing of the slider so as to bend or deflect the latter inwardly against the fastener elements.

All of the aforementioned arrangements are practical and commercially useful, but I have also devised an improved arrangement which providesthe desired locking action afforded by such prior devices in an even more advantageous manner. In accordance with the present invention I provide a friction shoe preferably so arranged as to distribute the frictional pressure generated by the tab cam over several units of the series, thus avoiding any possible tendency permanently to displace or injure the fastener elements, but so constructed and arranged that the friction shoe constitutes an integral portion of the tab-supportingr member ofthe slider, thus avoiding the cost and trouble of making an independent friction shoe and assembling it with the other parts. In accordance with the present invention the front wing of the slider hasa window or opening through which the J tab cam projects so that no deflection of the of the slider and is caused to press against been assembled therewith;

wing is necessary and the slider body may be made as rigid as is desired for accuracy' of operation and durability in use. The present arrangement provides a tab-supporting member which is of resilient yielding character, so that the application of pressure by the tab cam is to a certain extent cushioned,r thus avoiding excess strain on the parts and at the same time assisting in retaining the pull tab in locking position.

In the accompanying drawing in which I have illustrated one desirable embodiment of the invention by way of example:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentar front elevation to large scale of a fastener o the class described, provided with a locking slider embodying the present means;

F `g. 2 is a plan view of ablank suitable for use in making the improved slider;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the blank of Fig. 2 showing the result of certain of the earlier steps in the operatin of forming the slider;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the slider body before the pull-retaining member has Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a blank useful in making the pull-retaining member;

Fig. 7 is an edge elevation showing the blank of Fig. 6 after having been bent to form the pull-retaining member;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the complete slider but with the pull tab broken away;

Fig. 9 is a section substantially on the line 9-9 0f Fig. l, showing the slider with theV pull tab in locking position;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but showing a slider arranged for closing the fastener by downward movement, and showing the pull tab in locking position; and

Fig. l1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a pull tab of preferred construction.

Referring to the drawing, the fastener here illustrated comprises the flexible stringere 1 and 2 provided respectively with series of fastener elements 3 and 4, which may be of any usual and desirable construction. The fastenerl units or elements of the opposed series are moved int-o and out of engagement by means of a slider 5 having the usual convel-gent channels and operat ng in a manner well known to those skilled in the art.

In accordance with the present invention this slider is preferably made from a piece of sheet material, such as shown in Fig. 2 for example, comprising the portions 6 and 7 adapted to constitute the front and rear wings respectively of the slider, such portions being united by the neck member 8. The blank shown in Fig. 2 is subjected to a series of operations including bending, folding or the like to form a slider body of the desired construction. At an early stage in the process the lateral margins of the members 6 and 7 are i. turned upwardly to form flanges 9 and 10 (Fig. 3) and the member 6 is' provided with an opening or window 11 substantially midway its top and'bottom and is preferably furnished with an offset near its lower end providing a positioning recess 12 at its inner surface. The material of the blank is manipulated, to bring the front and rear wing por tions into spaced parallel relation and to provide a neck 8 (Fig. 4), which in accordance with the preferred construction is of substantially tubular form and adapted to hold the front and rear wings rigidly lin spaced relation. A slider of this general construction is disclosed in my copendingapplication, Serial No. 562,518, filed September 12, 1931, to which reference may be had for a more detailed der scrlption of the shape of the rigid tubular neck and the steps employed in forming the same.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated a blank useful in forming a unitary part, one portion of which constitutes a pull-retaining member and another portion of which constitutes'a friction shoe, said blank preferably consisting of resilient material, usually metal, and comprising an elongate ribbon-like strip 13 recessed to rovide a narrow neck 14 adjacent to one of its ends, said neck terminating in a head 15.

The other end of this blank is width than the body portion and part 16 is designed to form the friction shoe for engagement with the fastener element, as

of greater the point 17 (F ig. 7) to form substantially a. right angle and is then bent at 18 to form an outstanding loop portion whose inner surface is adapted to constitute a bearing for the pivot mem er of the pull tab. At the point 19 the blank is folded substantially double upon itself to form an open U-shaped fold.

The pull tab may be made from sheet metal or other suitable material, and comprises the finger-engaging portion 2O having at its uper end, as viewed in Fig. 11, a pair of cam I ugs 21 and 22, integral with the finger-engag ing portion and integrally united with vone another by the pivot member 23, the latter this wider,

21u and 21b respectively. The outer ends of these projecting portions are preferably smoothly rounded to form ca'm surfaces, and preferably the line joining the extreme outer points of these projections 21l and 21b would pass slightly above the pivotal axis of the member 23, as viewed in Fig. 9.

Having prepared the pull tab and the part which is to constitute the combined pull-retaining member and friction shoe, the pivot member 23 of the pull tab is disposed within the bearing formed by the bend 18, for example by springing it behind the member 16. The fold 19 of the part which constitutes the combined pull-retaining member and friction shoe is slipped over the lower edge of the front wing of the slider so that its inner ply lies in the recess 12 of the front wing with the part 16 disposed substantially opposite to the window 11 of the front wing, the ipper edge of the part 16 being free subjected to pressure the part 16 is readily sprung inwardly against the fastener ele ments, the resiliency of the material permitting it to flex at the bend 19. The art 14 is then disposed within the trough li e fold of the neck (which at this stage is not completed) with the part 15 disposed at the rear side of the slider body. The extreme upper .the slider with the stringers being facilitated by swinging the pull tab substantially at right angles to the plane of the slider body. When assembled, the friction shoe 16 lies between the inner surface of the front wing and the front surfaces of the fastener elements, and it may be noted Fig. 9) that the friction shoe is of such a size as to bear against several of the fastener elements simultaneously. lVhen, as in Fig. 9, the pull tab is in depending position (and preferably pressed rearwardly into contact with the front wing of the slider) the cam surface at the extremity of the projection 2l bears againstl the friction shoe and resiliently so that when presses the latter against the fastener elements, thus firmly lookin the slider in position, it being noted that ecause the pivotal axis of the pivot member 23 lies below the line connecting the extreme points of the cam projections 21a and 2lb, the parts when positioned, as in Fig. 9, are locked against accidental disengagement, the resiliency ot the part constituting the pull-retaining member assisting in securing this locking action.'

In Fig. 10 the slider is shown as applied'to a fastener which is closed by ldownward movement and lin this arrangement the cam projection 2lb contacts with the friction shoe and locks the slider in the same Way as in the arrangement of Fig. 9.

Obviously the pull tab may, if desired, be provided with a caml elementor elements on one face only so that it may be employed with a single locking slider, but the advantages of the Jfriction shoe (integrally united with the pull-retaining men.` ner and formed of resilient material) arel inherent in the structure Whether it be a double locking orga single locking slider.

While I have shown my im roved locking means as applied to a slider liody of a preferred construction I contemplate that it may be utilized with slider bodies ot other specific types and that various changes in size, proportion and relative arrangement ot parts may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1. A slider for use with separable fasteners of the kind having opposed series of interengageable fastener elements, said slider having convergent guide channels for the reception of the opposed series and comprising front and rear Win gs rigidly united by a neck a part secured at one end to the neck, said part comprising a' pull-retaining member having bearing means intermediate its ends, the opposite end of said partvconstitutinga friction shoe disposed for engagement with the fastener elements, and a pull tab provided with a pivot member journaled in. said bearing means, said pull tab having a cam portion engageable with said fritcon shoe in certain positions of the tab and operative to press the shoe into retaining engagement With the fastener means. the front wing of the slider being so shaped as to permit engagement of the cam portion of the tab with the friction 2. A slider for use with separable` fasteners ,of thel kind having opposed series of interenthe opposite end portion of said elongate part being disposed at the inner side of the front wing and constituting a friction shoe adapted to engage the front faces of the fastener elements, said pull retaining member having a forwardly directed bend at an intermediate v point` constituting a bearing, a pull tab having a pivot member arranged to .turn in said bearing, the pull tab having eccentric cam portions adjacent to its pivotal axis, the front wing having a passage through wliich the cam portions of the pull tab may pass for operative engagement with the friction shoe.

of material having one end secured to the neck p e and comprising a pull-retaining member extending longitudinally of and substantially parallel to the front wing and spaced from the latter, said part having a fold embracing i the lower edge of the front wing and having its free end portion disposed at the inner side of the front Wing and intermediate the latter and the fastenerelements With which the slider is associated, the pull-retaining member having a bearing at a point inter- `mediate the ends of the front Wing and the latter having a Window opposite said bearing, and a, pull tab of substantially T-shape in section comprising a finger-engaging part and opposite camportions forming the cross bar of the T, said pull tab having a pivot adjacent to the intersection of its cross bar and the finger-engaging portion, the pivot being journaled in the bearing in the pull-retaining member.

4. A slider for use with separable fasteners of the kind having opposed series of interengageable fastener elements, said slider having convergent guide channels for the. reception of the opposed series and comprising front and rear Wings rigidly united by a neck, a pull tab comprising a pivot member, a tinger-engaging portion, and a cam, and a resilient part, one portion of which constitutes a friction shoe disposed at the inner side of the front Wing of the slider and another portion of which is shaped to provide a bearing disposed at the outer side of the front Wing, the pivot member of the pull tab being journaed" in said bearing portion, the front wing having an opening through which the cam of the pull tab projects into engagement with the friction shoe.

5. A slider for use with separable fasteners of the kind having opposed series of interengageable fastener elements, said slider having convergent guide channels for the reception of the opposed series and comprising trontand rear wings rigidly united by a llO neck, the front wing having a window therethrough at a point intermediate its ends and having an offset at its lower end providing a positioning recess in its inner surface, an elongate resilient part secured at one end to the neck and extending longitudinally of the front wing-and having a fold embracing the lower edge of the front wing, that portion of the fold which is at the inner side of the wing being disposed in the positioniner recess of the latter and terminating in'a ziriction shoe arranged opposite the window in the wing, a pull tab having pivotal connection to that portion of said elongate part which lies between the neck and the lower edge of the front wing, and means actuated by the pull tab for pressing the friction shoe against the fastener elements with which the slider is associated.

6. A slider for use with separable fasteners of the kind having opposed series of interengageable fastener elements, said slider having convergent guide channels for the reception of the opposed` series and comprising front and rear wings rigidly united by a neck, an elongate part secured at one end to the neck and comprising a pull-retaining member extending lengthwise of the front wing, the latter having a positioning recess at its lower end, said elongate part having a fold embracing the lower end of the wing and having a portion disposed in said positioning recess with the free extremity of the elongate part disposed between the plane of the inner surface of the front wing and the fastener elements with which the slider is associated,

the intermediate portion ofthe pull-retaining member having a bearing, and a pull tab journaled in said bearing.

7. A slider for use with separable fasteners of the kind having opposed series of interengageable fastener elements, said slider having convergent guide channels for the reception of the opposed series of fastener elements and comprising front and rear wings rigidly united by a neck, a part secured to the slider, one portion of said part being so constructed and arranged as to constitute a resilient friction shoe extending upwardly from the lower end ofthe front wing and interposed between the inner surface of the win and the fastener elements with which the slider is associated, and another portion of said part extending longitudinally of the front wing ofthe slider and being shaped to provide a bearing for supporting a pull tab, and a pull tab journaled to turn in said bearing about an axis extending transversely of the length of the slider, said pull tab comprising a cam member, the front wing being so shaped as to permit engagement of the friction shoe by said cam member.

V8. A slider for use with separable fasteners of the kind having opposed series of interengageable fastener elements, said slider having convergent guide channels for the reception of the opposed series and comprising front and rear wings rigidly united by a neck, the front wing having a window at a point intermediate its ends, an elongate strip of resilient material secured at one end to the neck and having an outward bend at a point substantially opposite said window, the inner surface of said bend constituting a bearing, a pull tab journaled in said bearing, the pull tab having a cam element disposed to project through said window, the resilient strip being arrangedv to extend downwardly and around the lower end of the front wing and having a widened portion arranged at the inner side of the front win g and substantially opposite said window, said widened portion constituting a friction shoe and being of a size such as to engage a plurality of fastener elements simultaneously.

9. A slider for use with separable fasteners of the kind having opposed series of interengageable fastener elements, said slider having convergent guide channels for the reception of the opposed series and comprising front and rear wings rigidly united by a neck, the front wing having an opening therethrough at a point substantially midway between its top and bottom, a part comprising a resilient friction shoe disposed at the inner side of said front wing and opposite said opening, said shoe being of a size such as simultaneously to engage a plurality of fastener elements, said part having, in integral continuation of said shoe, a pull-retaining member disposed at the outer side of the wing, said pullretaining member havfng a bearing at a point opposite the window, and a pull tab having a pivot member disposed in said bearing, said pull tab comprising a finger-enga"- ing portion and cam members projecting substantally symmetrically at o pposite sides of the plane ofthe finger-engaging portion, said cam members being arranged for alternative engagement with the friction shoe.

10. A slider for use with separable fasteners of the kind having opposed series of in- .terengageable fastener elements, said slider havingconvergentguide channels for the reception of the opposed series and comprising front and rear wings rigidly united by a neck, a pull tab having a pivot member, an elongate strip of material secured at one end to the neck and comprising a pull-retaining member extending longitudinally of the front wing in substantially parallel spaced relation thereto, said pull-retaining member having an outward bend embracing the pivot member of the pull tab and forming a bearing for the tab, said strip of material having a fold embracing the lower edge of the front wing, the latter havingfa recess in its inner face for positioning the inner ply of the fold, said inner ply being resilient and constituting a friction shoe engageable with the fastener' nseofme elements, and means' carried by the pull tab for pressing said shoe against the fastener element.

1l. A slider for use with separable fasteners of the kind having opposed series of in'- terengageable fastener elements, said slider having convergent guide channels for the reception of the opposed series and comprising front and rear Wings rigidly united by a neck a pull tab consisting of an integral piece ot material comprising a finger-engaging portion, a pair of spaced cam lugs, a pivot member of circular section integrally uniting the cam lugs, the cam lugs projecting outwardly from opposite faces of the finger-enverging portion and having cam surfaces at t eir outer ends, and pull supporting means mounted on the slider and provided with a journal bearing for said pivot member.

12. A slider for use *with separable fasteners of the kind having opposed series of interengageable fastener elements, said slider having convergent guide channels for the reception of the opposed series and comprising front and rear Wings rigidly united by a neck, a pull tab consisting of an integral piece of material comprising a inger-engaging por tion, a. pair of s aced cam lugs and a pivot member integra ly uniting said lugs, the cam lugs projecting outwardly from one face at least of the pull tab and having cam surfaces at their outer ends, and bearing means carried by the slider, said bearing means being disposed adjacent to the front face of the front Wing and providing a journal bearing for said pivot member.

13. A slider for use with separable fasteners of the kind having opposed series o interengageable fastener elements, said slider having convergent guide channels for the reception of the opposed series and comprising front and rear wings rigidly united by a neck, a pull tab consisting oi an integral piece ot material comprising a linger-engaging portion, a pair of cam lugs, and a pivot member integrally uniting said cam lugs, the pivot member being of substantially circular cross section, the cam lugs projecting outwardly from opposite faces ofV the linger-engaging portions and having cam faces whose outermost points are disposed in a planehspaced from the pivotal axis o the pivot member and an elongate part comprising a pull supporting member extending downwardly from. the`neck along the front; of the 'front Wing,

.said pull supporting member providing 'a c' pivotal support for the pull tab.

Signed fourth dayo'f January', 1932.

GEORGE n. rRENrroia.

y me at Berlin, Connecticut, this 

